Photo By Chief Petty Officer Joshua Karsten | 220729-N-GR655-0128 GROTON, Conn. (July 29, 2022) – Cmdr. Charles Phillips III,...... read more read more
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GROTON, Connecticut – Cmdr. Charles W. Phillips III turned command of USS Vermont (SSN 792) over to Cmdr. Michael A. Lilleberg in a traditional change of command ceremony held Friday, July 29, at the Submarine Force Library and Museum in Groton, Connecticut.
Rear Adm. Douglas Perry, director of the Undersea Warfare Division of the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, attended as the keynote speaker for the event. Perry has family ties to the state of Vermont and commanded the Los Angeles-class fast attack submarine USS Pasadena (SSN 752) when Phillips checked aboard for a previous tour with the boat.
USS Vermont was commissioned in 2020 as the first Block IV Virginia-class fast attack submarine in the U.S. Navy. Vermont was selected early to host the Navy’s Submarine Command Course, bringing 30 prospective commanding officers and executive officers aboard as part of their training to take top leadership positions on subs, and conducted operations in the U.S. 4th Fleet area of operations, holding the first-ever submarine port call in Itaguai, Brazil, where SSN 792 hosted U.S. Ambassador Todd Chapman and Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro.
"Command of USS Vermont has been the honor of my lifetime. I've been truly inspired every day by these Sailors and their dedication, professionalism and steadfast commitment to mission accomplishment,” said Phillips. “When the U.S. Navy and our partners or allies have wanted to see what an optimally efficient and effective submarine crew looks like, they've come to Vermont.
“Over the past few years, the crew of Vermont has hosted everyone from prospective submarine commanders to Destroyer Squadron Commodores to the U.S. ambassador and president of Brazil,” he continued. “And at every turn – under the very highest levels of scrutiny – this team has exemplified the ideal submarine crew. I've been blessed to work alongside them, and I know they will continue to reach new heights under the extraordinary leadership of Cmdr. Lilleberg.”
USS Vermont is assigned to Submarine Squadron 4, commanded by Capt. John Stafford. The submarine is currently at General Dynamics Corp.’s Electric Boat shipyard in Groton undergoing routine early life cycle reviews and adjustments.
“I cannot let this occasion pass without thanking Commodore Stafford, Squadron 4 and Team New London for all of their support,” said Phillips. “And to my wife Devon, daughters Eden and Paloma, and the families of USS Vermont: I can never thank you enough for your sacrifice and service on the home front, you supported me and the Vermont crew with grit and grace over the past few years and I am forever grateful.”
Following his command tour, Phillips is transitioning to a position in the Division for Strategic Deterrence and Nuclear Policy in the J5 Directorate of the Joint Staff in Washington, D.C.
“USS Vermont has excelled under the guidance of Cmdr. Phillips. Getting to know this team in recent weeks has been incredibly motivating – I know I have big shoes to fill, but I'm deeply excited about the opportunity to join this crew and help Vermont get back out to sea to answer the nation’s call,” said Lilleberg, a native of Victor, Montana. “Vermont is equipped with state-of-the-art technology and highly skilled U.S. Navy Sailors, representing the rich military history of the Green Mountain State and the rest of this great country. We will work every day to return to the tip of the spear.”
Block IV Virginia-class submarines like Vermont incorporate design changes focused on reduced total ownership cost. By making these smaller-scale design changes to increase the component-level lifecycle of the submarine, the Navy will increase the periodicity between depot maintenance availabilities and increase the number of deployments.
Blocks I-III Virginia-class submarines are planned to undergo four depot maintenance availabilities and conduct 14 deployments. Block IV design changes are intended to reduce planned availabilities by one to three, and increase deployments to 15.
“Cmdr. Phillips led the crew of the very first Block IV Virginia-class submarine into the fleet, and under his expert leadership, USS Vermont in many ways became our ambassador for the submarine force, highlighting not only the latest in undersea warfare technology, but the best in manning as well,” said Stafford. “As the Commodore of Squadron 4, I knew I could always count on Cmdr. Phillips to keep his warship well-trained, professional and mission ready. And I have the utmost confident in Cmdr. Lilleberg as he leads Vermont into the future from here.”
SSN 792 is U.S. Navy ship to bear the name Vermont, but first in a century. The first was one of nine 74-gun warships authorized by Congress in 1816. The second, Battleship No. 20, was commissioned in 1907 and first deployed in December of that year as part of the “Great White Fleet.” The battleship Vermont was decommissioned June 30, 1920.
During the change of command ceremony, the sword of Revolutionary War hero Ethan Allen, one of Vermont’s founders, was granted for exhibition by the Naval History and Heritage Command.
The submarine Vermont is 377 feet long and has a 34-foot beam, as well as a crew of more than 130 Navy personnel.
Fast-attack submarines are multi-mission platforms enabling five of the six Navy maritime strategy core capabilities – sea control, power projection, forward presence, maritime security and deterrence. They are designed to excel in anti-submarine warfare, anti-ship warfare, strike warfare, special operations, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, irregular warfare and mine warfare. Fast-attack submarines project power ashore with special operations forces and Tomahawk cruise missiles in the prevention or preparation of regional crises.
| Date Taken: | 07.29.2022 |
| Date Posted: | 07.29.2022 11:48 |
| Story ID: | 426104 |
| Location: | GROTON, CT, US |
| Hometown: | VICTOR, MT, US |
| Web Views: | 1,005 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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